Two suspects with alleged links with terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad were arrested from Deoband, in Saharanpur in a swoop by an Anti-Terrorist Squad led by IG Aseem Arun in the intervening night of Thursday-Friday.
Posing as students without taking admission anywhere, the duo were staying in Deoband and were engaged in recruiting new faces for their organisation.
Chats linked to jehad, videos, pictures linked with JeM and two 30 calibre pistols and 30 cartridges were also recovered from their possession.
DGP OP Singh told the media in Lucknow on Friday that the UP ATS had arrested Shahnawaz Ahmad Teli of Kulgam district and Aquib Ahmad Malik from Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir and they were aged between 20 and 25 years.
Singh said the Jammu and Kashmir Police was being contacted to get more inputs about the arrested duo. He also said that information about their period of stay in Deoband was also being collected.
“The ATS got a tip-off about the two from an alert student after which a probe was initiated. IG (ATS) Aseem Arun reached Saharanpur to verify the credentials of the youths, who posed as students. After days of surveillance, both were arrested.
Asked whether the two were involved in the recent Pulwama terror attack, the DGP said, “It is difficult to tell whether they came here before the terror attack or after that. A probe is on to ascertain that.”
“Both are being grilled about their arrival in the state from Kashmir, how many other members are involved, was anyone recruited by them for JeM, where did the funding come from, what was its quantum and what was their target after recruitment,” the DGP said.